Location: Funchal, Portugal.

Architect: Nini Andrade Silva.

Nini Andrade Silva, a well-known designer, has opened her first Design Centre in Madeira, Portugal. The Design Centre is a place for sharing and meeting, with a permanent exhibition, a store, a cafeteria, and a signature restaurant of Michelin Star awarded chef, Miguel Laffan. The permanent exhibition is a part of Silva’s private collection and focuses on the history and culture of Madeira and its connection to the sea. The pieces conceived by Silva and her team are inspired by the pebbles found in the beaches of Madeira and represent a heartfelt homage to the poor children of the Island, known as Garotos do Calhau. These boys were known for their acrobatic skills and would dive along the anchored ships, catching coins thrown overboard by tourists. Silva has adopted this designation and made it a symbol of art, culture, beauty, and generosity. The Garouta do Calhau Collection includes sub-collections that encompass specialties such as painting, furniture, ceramics, and jewelry. Silva’s work has been praised for its artistic beauty and mastery of detail, which approaches the texture and refinement of the great masters of photography. The Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva is a laboratory of ideas and a place for creativity and inspiration.

Photo credit: Nick Bayntun.